Wed May 15 2:01pm ET
Field Level Media
Christmas Day for NFL marketing and ticket sales departments finally arrived Wednesday with the release of the 2024 season schedule.
With subplots and peripheral angles multiplying before our eyes - hello, Netflix, welcome to NFL holiday football broadcasts - Field Level Media's football-minded contributors assembled the top 25 games of 2024.
24. Cardinals at Jets, TBD: We're grabbing our popcorn for one matchup, and one matchup alone: Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner. Top five draft picks likely to be near the top of the pecking order at their position for a decade.
23. Colts at Patriots, TBD: Drake Maye, the No. 3 pick in the 2024 draft, meet Anthony Richardson, drafted fourth overall in 2023. Indianapolis appeared to have a hit on its hands before Richardson was shut down to undergo shoulder surgery. If he can stay healthy and Maye isn't relegated to clipboard duty behind former Colts starter Jacoby Brissett, we're eager to make early evaluations of purported franchise QBs.
22. Jaguars at Eagles, TBD: Young QBs and strong pass rush are common bonds, sure, but the plotline we're looking at is the reception for Jacksonville head coach Doug Pederson. He played for the Eagles (1999) but was essentially a coach-in-training for Donovan McNabb, then served as an assistant for Andy Reid and came back from a stint in KC for a five-year run that included a Super Bowl.
21. Bears at Texans, TBD: The Bears also get a meeting with the Carolina Panthers for the second consecutive season. With all due respect to Panthers 2023 No. 1 pick Bryce Young, the top rookie quarterback last season was Houston's C.J. Stroud. His numbers would have been the best ever single-season passing total for a Bears QB (4,108 to Erik Kramer's team record of 3,803). Stroud had 26 TD passes including the playoffs despite missing time with a concussion). The Bears hitched their wagon to No. 1 pick Caleb Williams with the rookie carrying massive talent - and expectations - in Year 1.
20. Vikings at Giants, TBD: All of the QB uncertainty one can handle on the undercard, LSU products Justin Jefferson (Vikings) and Malik Nabers (Giants) in the main event.
19. 49ers at Seahawks, TBD: Maybe you overlooked it. There's not a chance Brock Purdy did. He knows new Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald's defense - that of the Ravens - had him seeing ghosts in a five-interception laugher on Christmas Night last season. Macdonald's new club has a bunch of cross-training chess pieces determined to unseat the 49ers from the NFC West perch.
18. Jets at 49ers, Sept. 9: Week 1 on "Monday Night Football" is a familiar refrain for the Jets, who are hoping Aaron Rodgers has some magic left following a season-ending injury four snaps into his first start with the team in 2023. Rodgers is local - Chico, Calif., Butte JC and Cal - and went 6-3 against the 49ers with the Packers. Now 40 years old, he'll try to tip the scales toward the Jets, who are 3-11 all-time in the series with San Francisco. Jets head coach Robert Saleh has known 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan since breaking into the NFL as a low-level assistant with the Texans 15 years ago and was defensive coordinator on his staff before taking over with the Jets.
17. Cowboys at Commanders, TBD: Dan Quinn gets his second chance as a head coach in Washington and to be the champ in the NFC East, he'll have to take down his previous employer and boss, the Cowboys and Mike McCarthy. Given the amount of time Quinn spent with McCarthy and Dak Prescott, don't discount the level of concern the Cowboys have entering two games with Washington.
16. Eagles vs. Packers (Brazil), Sept. 6: The youngest roster in the NFL last season belonged to the Packers, and nobody can fault what Green Bay did in the offseason. Head coach Matt LaFleur debuts his offense with Josh Jacobs at running back and a new-look defense. It'll also be a big reveal game for the Eagles, unleashing their own big-ticket offseason item, Saquon Barkley, and a number of new faces on defense.
15. Falcons at Vikings, TBD: Welcome back, Kirk Cousins, congratulations on finding a team that didn't want to invest in a young quarterback to insure its $100M guarantee to a 35-year-old starter coming off an Achilles injury. Oops. Cousins could be hailed or hated for bailing on the Vikings in free agency following 50 regular-season wins in six seasons of Skol-ing.
14. Ravens at Chargers, TBD: Los Angeles and new hire Jim Harbaugh welcome John Harbaugh and the Ravens with entertainment expected to be rich before, during and after a matchup of AFC heavyweights. John Harbaugh won the last meeting and survived a brief power outage at the Super Bowl in New Orleans to take home the Lombardi and deal Jim's 49ers a painful defeat.
13. Steelers at Broncos, Week 2: Revenge games bring out the spirit and emotion you might not otherwise find in games that don't include Mike Tomlin. Pittsburgh picked up Russell Wilson after he was scrapped at a cost north of $80 million to Denver by second-year head coach Sean Payton. Payton, of course, is still in town and brought in a rookie, Oregon's Bo Nix, to train in the system that helped make Drew Brees a legend. Don't look now, but Pittsburgh had a sneaky excellent offseason while the Broncos shed leaders and linchpins on both sides of the ball (Wilson, Justin Simmons, Jerry Jeudy). If reunions are your thing, Payton also heads back to New Orleans this season.
12. Jets at Bills, Week 17: We know they'll get an earlier go at each other on "Monday Night Football" In October, but let's give the season time to breath and Aaron Rodgers time to round back into form. He'll be recently removed from his 41st birthday but should know the names of all of his wide receivers, a task Josh Allen might need more time to complete.
11. Ravens at Cowboys, TBD: Dak Prescott was great at home last season and Dallas fortified the offensive line through the draft. Whether new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer has an answer for mobile quarterbacks - namely Lamar Jackson - might be the hot-button issue for the Cowboys. Baltimore's No. 1-ranked defense in 2023 also traveled well last season, battering Brock Purdy, Trevor Lawrence and Justin Herbert and limiting those three teams to a combined 36 points in Ravens' road wins.
10. 49ers at Packers, Nov. 24: Week 12 and the start of a pivotal, NFC-dominated, primetime featured stretch for Green Bay with nighttime marquee matchups at Detroit (Week 14) and Seattle (Week 15) ahead. Jordan Love's two interceptions stopped the Packers short of an upset at San Francisco in the divisional playoffs in January.
9. Texans at Cowboys, TBD: C.J. Stroud appears to be special and the Texans made sure his supporting cast wouldn't be a reason for a sophomore slump. But one warning: only the Bills and Patriots have a more difficult schedule based on 2023 results and offseason moves. Among the appealing underlying matchups: Houston wide receiver Stefon Diggs vs. Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs.
8. Bears at Packers, Jan. 5: The Week 18 finale was meaningful for Green Bay last season, and Jordan Love guided the Packers into the postseason to sweep the Bears and continue the trend Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers started. No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams makes his first foray into the likely frozen tundra. Will the Bears be playing for more than a spoiler token?
7. Dolphins at 49ers, TBD: It was Dec. 4, 2022, and far more meaningful than we knew at the time when a seventh-round rookie - 49ers QB Brock Purdy - made his first career start with two TD passes in a 33-17 home win over the Miami Dolphins. Back to the scene come the Dolphins with former 49ers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel a solid bet to share some unknown intel about old boss Kyle Shanahan in the game week buildup.
6. Ravens at Chiefs, Sept. 5: Had this one been bumped back a couple months to multiply the meaningfulness in the standings and AFC playoff picture, it had an angle on a top three game of the 2024 regular season. Lamar Jackson vs. Patrick Mahomes remains must-see for all the right reasons.
5. 49ers at Bills, Dec. 4: The week-after-Thanksgiving primetime game on Sunday of Week 13 should be meaningful for teams with Super Bowl aspirations.
4. Rams at Lions, TBD: Two franchises on schedule to combine for more than $350 million in deposits into Jared Goff's bank account are back at it with Detroit out to duplicate their playoff win in January over one-time Lions QB Matthew Stafford.
3. Ravens at Eagles, TBD: Star power on display? Check-check. Potential Super Bowl preview? Sure thing. Saquon Barkley (Eagles) and Derrick Henry (Ravens) add firepower to a pair of offenses with explosive potential.
2. Lions at 49ers, TBD: Other than tackle eligible, think of another phrase that could spike Dan Campbell's temperature more than "at San Francisco." Didn't think so. The Lions were halfway to Las Vegas for the Super Bowl leading the 49ers handily in the NFC Championship but coughed up a 17-point lead and bowed out of the playoffs in a 34-31 defeat instead. If Campbell circled this game on the schedule in ink, we're guessing you can't read it.
1. (tie) Chiefs at 49ers, TBD: Familiar enough to be rivals, the Chiefs left with the jewels in recent games that really mattered between teams with a combined 50-18 record the past two regular seasons. San Francisco took a lashing from the Chiefs, 44-23, at home in Oct. 23 before the dawning of the Brock Purdy era.
1. (tie) Bengals at Chiefs, TBD: Don't forget Joe Burrow, he's more than the highest-paid player in 2024. The Bengals quarterback is 3-1 against the Chiefs but was sidelined with a broken wrist when the teams played in 2023. Don't look for a warm reception in Kansas City, where fans aren't soon to forget Burrow's boys calling the Chiefs' stadium "Burrow-head" based on his success at the home of Patrick Mahomes.
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins hasn't finished inside the top 50 of his position since Week 2 this year. The veteran pass-catcher continues to be more of an outlet option, rather than a consistent threat each week. In Week 9, he failed to bring in the only target he saw in a blowout win over the Miami Dolphins. His opponent in Week 10, the Minnesota Vikings, has been tough against opposing receiving groups this season, and the Ravens have finally gotten healthier on offense. That means there will likely be fewer targets for Hopkins after the other four that are higher in the pecking order. Hopkins isn't a recommended option in any format this week.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson (knee) is expected to make his return this Sunday against the visiting Cleveland Browns despite garnering a questionable tag. Wilson has been out of action for the last two games since suffering a knee injury in the team's Week 6 loss to the Denver Broncos. While he could record only one full practice (two limited) leading up to the contest, the sentiment seems to be that he will play. Per the 25-year-old, he feels "great" physically, and should assume his typical role as a target hog in New York's offense if he's active. Fantasy managers may want to temper expectations in his first game back, particularly with head coach Aaron Glenn yet to name a starting quarterback and an imposing defense lined up across from him. That said, Wilson has been a bright spot for the Jets and is second in the league with an astronomical 34.8% share of his team's targets. The Ohio State alum is RotoBaller's PPR WR17 for this week's slate of action.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens tight end Charlie Kolar has scored a touchdown in two consecutive games, and he'll look to extend that streak in Week 10 against the Minnesota Vikings. The 26-year-old is averaging just 0.8 catches per game this season, but he has three receptions and two touchdowns in his last two contests. The biggest obstacle between Kolar and a three-week touchdown streak is his role on the depth chart. He remains stuck behind productive tight ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely. While Kolar has been able to get on the field for more than one-third of the snaps in each of the last four weeks, Lamar Jackson still prefers throwing to Andrews and Likely. Therefore, Kolar scoring a touchdown in Week 10 is far from a lock. He can be left on waivers in all fantasy leagues.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks will take on an increased workload after Rashid Shaheed was traded to the Seattle Seahawks. Cooks is expected to operate as the Saints' No. 2 receiver behind Chris Olave for the rest of the season, starting with Sunday's Week 10 contest against the Carolina Panthers. The veteran is likely second or third in the pecking order for targets, working behind Olave and perhaps tight end Juwan Johnson, too. While New Orleans' offense has struggled this season, they've also been playing from behind in most of their games, creating additional volume for the passing game, led by Tyler Shough. An uptick in targets could be enough to generate low-end WR3/flex appeal for Cooks in deeper leagues. He's a solid speculative stash in deep formats, while managers in leagues with 12 or fewer teams can keep an eye on him.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets running back Breece Hall will carry a bit more risk this weekend when his team squares off with the visiting Cleveland Browns at MetLife Stadium. The last time we saw the 24-year-old hit the field, he rushed for a season-high 133 yards and two touchdowns against a sieve-like Bengals defense - recording his third game this season of at least 100 yards on the ground. However, running room might be more challenging to snuff out this Sunday when he takes on a Cleveland squad that's allowed the ninth-fewest rushing yards per game (94.3). Moreover, the quarterback situation in New York remains unclear, adding an extra layer of uncertainty to an already difficult matchup. For what it's worth, the Browns aren't any easier to throw on, so leaning into Hall's dual-threat skill set might be New York's most sensible move. The fourth-year pro is RotoBaller's PPR RB18 ahead of Week 10.
From RotoBaller
Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones Sr. (shoulder, toe) faces a strong matchup in Week 10 against Baltimore, but comes into the game with a questionable designation, so managers will have to check on his availability before setting their lineups on Sunday. The veteran gained 98 yards on only 11 touches against Detroit last week and was playing ahead of backfield mate Jordan Mason, but left the game due to the aforementioned shoulder injury and did not return. He'll take on a Baltimore defense that ranks 26th against half-PPR running backs, but one that has looked improved during its past three games. Baltimore's past three opponents averaged just 13 points, and the Ravens had a few extra days of rest after playing on Thursday in Week 9. With Mason still part of the picture, Jones won't have complete control of the Vikings' backfield even if he plays, but he can be considered a quality RB3/flex option against Baltimore if he's active on Sunday.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman has been one of the biggest boom-or-bust options throughout his career, next to maybe Jameson Williams. So far this season, Bateman has one finish above a WR3 and finished just inside WR3 territory in half-PPR formats in Week 9. His ceiling is much higher with Lamar Jackson under center, but he's only amassed 29 targets so far this season and has turned that into 15 catches for 184 yards and two touchdowns. The Minnesota Vikings are currently ranked as the eighth-toughest defense against receiver groups, but they've been very vulnerable the last three weeks. That gives Bateman some flex appeal, but only in deeper leagues.
From RotoBaller
New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. remains the team's starter heading into Week 10 against the Chicago Bears, offensive coordinator Mike Kafka told members of the media. When asked about Tracy and Devin Singletary handling a roughly equal snap share last week, Kafka explained that snaps are allocated based on the flow of the game, and factors include players who are running well and whether a running back taps their helmet to come out of the game. He said that it's difficult to track running back snaps when a drive is moving quickly, and it's easier to monitor per quarter or per half. All of these comments seem to indicate that while Tracy will earn the start in Week 10, New York's backfield structure is dynamic. We could see Tracy lead the backfield in some weeks, Singletary in some weeks, and an even split from time to time. For now, Tracy remains the preferred Giants running back in fantasy football, ranking as a high-end RB3 against a solid Bears run defense.
From RotoBaller
Despite head coach Aaron Glenn declining to name a starter out of the bye week, quarterback Justin Fields is expected to lead the offense this Sunday in a home clash with the Cleveland Browns. Fields helped orchestrate New York's first win of the season in Week 8 in a shootout with the Bengals. However, he'll get a much stiffer test this weekend in the visiting Browns. On the season, Cleveland has allowed the sixth-fewest passing yards per game (182.6) and the seventh-least fantasy points per contest to QBs (14.69). There's always a chance that the 26-year-old will make an impact with his legs, although, with how Glenn has flip-flopped between Fields and Tyrod Taylor, he also has a shot at being benched before the game is concluded. On the bright side, Fields should get his No. 1 target back in wide receiver Garrett Wilson (knee), but he'll be a shaky play against one of the league's more imposing defenses. He's RotoBaller's QB19 for his matchup at MetLife.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers rookie wide receiver Savion Williams has mostly been limited to special teams and a handful of designed touches over the first eight games. Williams has been used creatively, catching all seven of his targets for 43 yards and a touchdown while also adding eight carries for 28 yards and another score on the ground. The rookie third-round pick out of TCU has strong ball-in-hand skills, which could lead to more of these designed touches as the Packers will be without their best YAC threat in star tight end Tucker Kraft (knee) for the rest of the season. However, it will be difficult to earn consistent playing time behind Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson, and Matthew Golden, in addition to Dontayvion Wicks (ankle) and Jayden Reed (collarbone, foot) when healthy. Williams is also dealing with a foot injury, having been limited in Friday's practice with a foot injury. Williams remains off the radar for redraft leagues for now.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets quarterback Tyrod Taylor would be a low-end streaming option in Week 10 if he gets the starting nod for the team's home bout with the Cleveland Browns. Even after a bye week, head coach Aaron Glenn has still not seen fit to name a starting quarterback. The 36-year-old looked like he might get a shot to run away with the starting gig back in Week 8, although he was eventually ruled out with a knee injury. Taylor looks to be over his ailment, carrying no designation into Sunday's contest. The sentiment around the team, however, seems to be that Justin Fields will again lead the Jets' offense. Whichever of the two winds up calling signals for New York will be met with a challenging outing against a Browns unit that's been unkind to opposing offenses. Through eight games, Cleveland is third in total defense (276.9) and has forced the fifth-most interceptions (eight) while yielding a dreary 12.13 rushing yards per game to QBs.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyquan Thornton has seen his playing time dip over the past few weeks, playing just 23% of offensive snaps since Week 6. Thornton had been a pretty important piece of Kansas City's offense during the first month of the season, using his electric speed to help stretch the field and create explosive plays. The 25-year-old caught 13 of his 24 targets for 272 yards and three touchdowns while playing 60% of the team's snaps over the first five weeks. His 20.9 yards per reception was the highest in the league over that span out of receivers with at least 10 receptions. Rashee Rice's return and Xavier Worthy getting healthier played a part in Thornton's role diminishing, but he was a useful player and could see more snaps after the team's Week 10 bye.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews finally broke through for a top-five finish at the position in Week 9 with two touchdowns against the Miami Dolphins. The Ravens' offense looks like it's already back on track with Lamar Jackson under center, but Andrews didn't particularly see a ton of targets in that Thursday night blowout. In fact, Isaiah Likely saw one more target and gained 38 more yards, but Andrews cashed in on the touchdowns. While the Minnesota Vikings present a favorable matchup, the uncertainty of Andrews' involvement is always the biggest risk. He projects as a borderline TE1 this week, but he's not exactly a surefire start like he has been in years past.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry has gotten back on track over the last few games, and comes into Week 10 as the overall RB15 in half-PPR leagues. Across those last three games, Henry is averaging 104.0 yards and 0.7 touchdowns on 21.3 carries per game. The Minnesota Vikings, however, have been quite stout against the run for most of the season. They're ranked the 11th toughest defense against opposing backfields and limited the dynamic Detroit Lions' run game to just a total of 16 fantasy points last week. With that being said, Henry is projected as a low-end RB1 because Lamar Jackson's gravity can still account for a lot of openings on the ground.
From RotoBaller
The Pittsburgh Steelers have promoted running back Trey Sermon to their active roster from the practice squad ahead of their Week 10 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. Sermon has only appeared in three games this season for Pittsburgh, logging just one offensive snap and working almost entirely on special teams. The 26-year-old should be expected to play in a similar role on Sunday night against the Chargers, and potentially be in the mix for some touches on offense if one of the Steelers running backs ahead of him were to go down.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers has already accrued 60 targets through eight games, which puts him on pace for the most in a single season through his three-year career. Unfortunately, he hasn't found the end zone since Week 1, but his heavy workload keeps him firmly in the WR2 conversation each week. In Week 10, he'll take on the Minnesota Vikings secondary, who are ranked as the eighth toughest matchup for opposing receiver groups. If you take the last three weeks into account, however, they've given up the second most fantasy points per game to receivers at 44.9 per game. Flowers should remain heavily involved, so he's projected as a high-end WR2 with a ceiling of low-end WR1.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (glute) practiced fully on Thursday and Friday after missing Wednesday's session with a glute injury. He is listed without an injury designation and should be ready to roll heading into a Week 10 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons in Berlin, Germany. Pittman is enjoying a bounce-back season for the Colts, leading the team with 52 catches for 561 yards and six touchdowns in nine games. He will look to keep it going against an Atlanta secondary that is allowing the 26th-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers in 2025. The tough matchup isn't ideal but Pittman and the Colts offense have been too good to downgrade in fantasy. He settles in as a low-end WR1/high-end WR2 in Week 10 and should be started in all lineups.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets wide receiver John Metchie III was acquired from the Philadelphia Eagles the week before the NFL trade deadline. Metchie didn't earn significant playing time in Philadelphia, totaling just 31 offensive snaps and recording four catches (four targets) for 18 yards. The 25-year-old was used primarily on special teams, but he'll have the chance to emerge as a receiver on a Jets team that has been searching for options outside of star wideout Garrett Wilson, who will return in Week 10 from his multi-game absence due to a knee injury. The Jets also acquired former second-round pick Adonai Mitchell from the Indianapolis Colts in the Sauce Gardner trade, opening the door for both unproven wideouts to see significant playing time. It will be interesting to see how involved Metchie is in the Jets' Week 10 matchup against the Cleveland Browns. Metchie is worth monitoring as a potential fantasy riser for now.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts tight end Tyler Warren is turning in an impressive rookie season, but he has cooled off slightly of late. Warren has been held to nine catches for 79 scoreless yards over his past two contests, while Alec Pierce and Josh Downs have gotten more involved in the passing attack. Overall, Warren has hauled in 42 passes for 518 yards and three touchdowns while adding an additional touchdown on the ground. He will look to break a two-game scoreless streak against the Atlanta Falcons in Berlin in Week 10. The Falcons do represent a foreboding matchup for Warren, however, as they are allowing the fewest fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends. That being said, Warren remains a low-end TE1 in fantasy thanks to the lack of competition at the position and the explosiveness of the Indy offense this season.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson returned from a three-game absence and picked apart the Miami Dolphins for four touchdowns through the air with a 78.3 completion percentage. He'll have a tougher task ahead of him in Week 10 against the Minnesota Vikings. They're around the middle of the pack in terms of fantasy points allowed to opposing QBs, with an average of 16.62 per game. Over the last three weeks, however, the Vikings have given up 19 or more fantasy points in each game. Jackson is already a must-start, and should continue to roll while the offense is the healthiest it's been all season.
From RotoBaller